Wednesday, 28 April 2010

Million Ponds Project on Target

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation is continuing to play a key role in The Million Ponds Project, which has just recommended funding for the creation of 366 new ponds across 63 sites in England and Wales. The new ponds will benefit 27 national Biodiversity Action Plan species, including amphibians and the grass snake.

Each year the Million Ponds Project invites applications for high quality pond projects to be financed by Biffaward. Funding for this latest round of projects will be confirmed by mid June, with work to create the ponds starting soon after.

‘Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) is pleased to be a major partner in the Million Ponds Project,’ said David Orchard, ARC’s Ponds Project Officer. ‘It's become a great way of implementing practical conservation projects. Amphibians and reptiles will do particularly well from the forthcoming projects. Of the 366 ponds that will be created, 195 of them will benefit the common toad, 160 the grass snake, 192 the great crested newt and 20 will benefit the natterjack toad.’

The Million Ponds Project is now in its second year and is well on target to create 5000 high quality wildlife ponds by 2012. Some of these ponds will be financed by Biffaward, others will be funded with money from Higher Level Stewardship and some will be created by the Million Ponds Project partners themselves.

David Orchard added; ‘The closing date for the next round of ponds to be funded by Biffaward is the end of January 2011. The Million Ponds Project provides advice on pond creation work as well as funding, so if you'd like to find out more, please contact me.’